UAE call Flydubai incident terrorist attack
The Emirates now classify the cockpit incident as terrorism, while the motive is still being investigated.
There is news on this story (Saturday, 3 October 2026, 11:19): Emirates describe co-pilot’s attack as terrorist act
Follow-up to: ABC: Flydubai co-pilot previously suspended after safety concerns Saturday, 3 October 2026, 02:14
The United Arab Emirates are calling the incident aboard a Flydubai flight a terrorist attack. According to sources cited by NOS and ABC, the co-pilot said he wanted to crash the aircraft in Israel, but the precise circumstances and motive have not yet been publicly established.
The Emirati authorities’ classification is the most significant new development in the investigation into flight FZ1073. The United Arab Emirates are leading the investigation because the aircraft belongs to an Emirati airline. According to Associated Press, investigators are also examining whether there was advance planning or a terrorist motive.
An earlier report by De Vector stated that in 2024 Oman Air had temporarily removed the co-pilot from the cockpit after he was deemed a security risk. Sources reported at the time that there were concerns about extremist material, but Oman Air and the Emirati authorities had not officially confirmed the earlier measure.
The new information comes from several sources familiar with the investigation. NOS and ABC report that the co-pilot is alleged to have said he wanted to crash the aircraft in Israel. That is a statement attributed to him; so far, there is no public record of the interview or official interrogation report confirming it.
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a violent incident broke out in the cockpit. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. According to NOS and AP, passengers and other pilots helped regain control of the aircraft. The people on board subsequently arrived safely.
Israeli officials had earlier referred to a possible terrorist attack. At the same time, Israeli security services stressed that the investigation was still under way. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that possible links to Iran were also being investigated, while Israel’s public broadcaster reported that there were no indications of involvement by a state or terrorist organisation.
The differing statements make clear that, for now, the term terrorist attack is primarily the official classification used by the United Arab Emirates, rather than a completed judicial finding. The suspect’s identity and background have been only partially confirmed in public sources. Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.
The case raises new questions about the exchange of security information between airlines and authorities in different countries. According to the authorities involved, it has yet to be established whether earlier signals concerning the co-pilot were shared with Flydubai, and how he was subsequently able to join the airline.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is supported by AP, NOS and ABC. The co-pilot’s possible intention is carefully presented as information from sources, rather than as an established fact.
- confirmed The United Arab Emirates are calling the incident a terrorist attack. — AP reports that the UAE called the incident a terrorist attack. source
- confirmed The co-pilot is alleged to have said he wanted to crash the aircraft in Israel. — NOS and ABC report this on the basis of sources; in the article it is presented as an attributed statement. source
- confirmed The co-pilot had previously been deemed a security risk by Oman Air. — ABC reports an earlier suspension over concerns about extremist views. source
- confirmed The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. — NOS and AP describe the landing after the cockpit incident. source
- uncertain There are no publicly established indications of involvement by Iran or another state. — NOS reports conflicting statements: Netanyahu says links to Iran are being investigated, while an Israeli public source reports no indications of state or group involvement. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the UAE classify the incident as a terrorist attack and that the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The alleged target and the earlier security concerns are based on sources and remain part of the investigation.Sources
- UAE says FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain in terrorist attack — Associated Press
- ABC News: copiloot Flydubai eerder geschorst vanwege extremistisch materiaal — NOS
- Netanyahu: onderzocht wordt of Iran bij aanval in vliegtuig betrokken was — NOS
- Co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash plane was previously identified as security risk — ABC News
The story so far
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 13:05 Israel begins repatriation flights after cockpit incident
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 02:14 ABC: Flydubai co-pilot previously suspended after safety concerns
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 09:19 UAE call Flydubai incident terrorist attack (this article)
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 11:19 Emirates describe co-pilot’s attack as terrorist act
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „flydubai luchtvaart”
- NOS — „flydubai luchtvaart”
- Het Parool — „flydubai luchtvaart”